From the Rodeo to Rodeo Drive
by Paige McKirahan

For those from the country like me, Western wear has always been the norm worn by people in the community, on trend or not. Full denim outfits, leather, cowboy boots, fringe, large belt buckles, and flannels can be seen at any county fair on full display but now, those trends are stepping off of dirt roads and onto the runway.

This Western revival began a couple of years ago with a few '90s favorites coming back into circulation; black leather belts with shining horse buckles and suede for skirts and shirts alike were taken back out of the closet along with many other '90s trends as vintage became the “it” style. This fall, fashion is taking this Western interest and running with it after its success on the Spring/ Summer runways. Raf Simons, the new creative director of Calvin Klein, chose to go West for his first show with the label and it paid off in a big way. This nostalgic Americana look grabbed the attention of the public as Simons created a collection that embodied dark American history and horror inspired by films like Carrie and Midnight Cowboy. His full denim outfits adorned iconic public figures like Solange and A$AP Rocky, putting Britney and Justin’s 2001 American Music Awards ensemble to shame.

A$AP Mob for Raf Simons Western Calvin Klein Campaign

Celine, Versace, Chloe, Tom Ford, Alberta Ferretti, Coach, and Hermes are just a few of the other big names that saddled up and incorporated prairie aesthetics into their fall lines. Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar both go as far as naming Western one of this season’s most prominent trends. Capped cowboy boots, denim and plaid button downs secured up to the neck, saddle bags, snakeskin, and fringe are back, but always remember: keep it chic and keep it you.

Most Iconic Designer Bags of All Time

Happy Handbag Flash Sale Week!

 

In celebration of our upcoming flash sale, we figured it was only appropriate to explore what handbags are considered to be the most popular in the history of the accessory. The idea of investing in luxury handbags is a new one, but many of these designs have survived for decades and are still celebrating their icon status (hello, quilted Chanel bag!). After scouring Google’s variety of articles arguing what handbag is more coveted than the next, we have decided to compile a list of what we feel are the top nine most popular bags in no particular order. The stories of some may surprise you so read on to see if you own an iconic piece in fashion history!

Louis Vuitton Speedy Bag

 

The Speedy 30cm, which is the first bag released from the fashion house, was designed in 1930 and was a favorite of Audrey Hepburn! At the request of the Tiffany’s star herself, the brand created a 25cm style that shot the Speedy to icon status. They now come in a variety of sizes ranging from duffle bag to near change purse!

Chanel 2.55

 

This bag, created in February of 1955 (inspiring the 2.55 name), was designed by Coco Chanel because she grew tired of carrying her handbags as either a clutch or with hand straps. Her solution? The incorporation of the shoulder strap! This bag comes in a variety of colors and patterns but the most recognizable style is quilted in either black or white.

 

 

Hermes Birkin

 

One of the most expensive and coveted pieces on this list, the Hermes Birkin can range from the low thousands to six figures in price depending on the year and style of the piece. Jane Birkin, an English actress, and Jean-Lous Dumas, Hermes chief executive, met by chance on a flight and as Dumas watched Birkin struggle with her carry on, he began thinking about the design of handbags. He used her as an inspiration and aid in creating a new, functional bag that would easily carry all of one’s belongings and voila! The Birkin was born!

Hermes Kelly

 

Another one of the Hermes brand’s fan favorites is the Kelly. Formerly known as the Sac à dépêches, this bag was popularized by none other than Princess Grace Kelly herself. Created in the 1930s, the Kelly was a favorite of Graces and it became an iconic symbol of status after a photo of the Princess using the bag to cover her pregnant belly flooded the media in the 50s. The bag was renamed after the film star and has been sought after since.

Celine Luggage Tote

 

A younger design compared to the aforementioned pieces, Celine released the Luggage tote in the early 2000s. It only became iconic after the fashion forward Olsen twins were seen sporting one; they then became one of the most popular bags in history, selling out before they even reached stores. If you interested in one of these bags, you better head to the website and get on a waitlist as many designs are not even sold in Celine stores!

Balenciaga City

 

The Balenciaga City bag is also a newer design, but that doesn’t mean it’s not eligible to be an icon. After its conception, the bag did not get approved past the prototype stage as it was deemed “too soft”. When the bag was requested for a runway show in 2001, it became one of Kate Moss’s favorites and sold out in seconds when it officially hit the market.

 

 

Chloe Paddington

 

In 2002, the French brand Chloe released the Paddington bag during the perfect era: the rise of ecommerce and social networking. The bag was quickly snatched up by the biggest “it” girls of the time, creating a global sensation. It was reported by Vogue that when it was introduced, the Paddington was ordered so far in advance that it sold out of the 8,000 bags in inventory before it even hit stores!

 

 

Fendi Baguette

 

The Fendi Baguette bag created in 1997 is considered by some experts to be one of the first official “it” bags of our time as it was a favorite of fashion icon Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City. Though it is smaller than the others on this list, it packs a big punch as it is commonly adorned with a variety of prints and textures in addition to the Fendi logo clasp.

 

 

Louis Vuitton Neverfull

 

Another LV favorite, the Neverfull was created in 2007 as a carry-all tote that comes in three sizes. On top of being able to hold all of your belongings and more, it is one of the most durable bags on the luxury market; to test this, Louis Vuitton fills them with 3.5 kgs of weight, then drops them half a meter! This sturdiness can be attributed to the craftsmanship that goes into creating the Neverfull. Did you know they can take up to 45 hours to make?

Did you see anything familiar? We would sure think so! Now that you have handbags on the mind, be sure to make your calendars for this Saturday, so you can pick up some of your own pieces at our flash sale! 

 

This Saturday Sep 1st 12-6PM EST. Use Code: Sep1 for 30% OFF selected bags

A Long History 

Have you ever thought about the history of a fashion product? As in, the evolution of it and how it transitioned to the way it is styled today? Typically, trends come and go. But the scarf trend has not gone away and has been around since B.C. times. That goes all the way back to queen Nefertiti wearing a finely woven scarf topped by a conical headdress in 1350 B.C.! People used fashion as a way to show their class during those times. 

 

More Than Just a Cloth 

Scarves were not always worn as a fashion statement. Emperor Nero was rarely seen in public without his around his neck in 60 A.D. It was called his sudarium (or sweat cloth). This was practical and it showed his class, being multi-functional. There was some evolution going on with the scarf due to this. The scarf is now being seen as multi-functional. 

 

Scarf Evolution 

Skipping forward many years later, people begin making and selling their own scarves. With more people populating the planet, that equates to businesses beginning. As we continue to include the scarf in fashion businesses in time, the scarf evolves a bit. It became a product people usually only wore in the winter to keep warm. Years pass, then it became something you can wear for anything, such as a headdress, headband, belt, bracelet, even a top, and so on. 

 

A Multi-Functional Fashion Product 

The scarf quickly became an even larger trend everybody wanted in on. Fashion retailers everywhere started buying and selling more scarves. The best part about scarves is that they are multi-functional in fashion and multi-functional for functional purposes. Today, you can find them all year around for this exact reason.